Filling apparatus



y 1952 A. J. DOWLING ET AL 2,596,135

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS AHO/ILOWJ. Dow/mg y Edward Urbanski ATTORNEY y 13, 1952 A. J. DOWLING ET AL2,596,135

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2:

I N V EN TOR. H 2 Ana raw J Dow/l n By [c/Wa/z/ flra/yj/r y 3, 1952 A.J. DOWLING ET AL 2,596,135

FILLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Andrew Jflow/#79 May '13, 1952 Filed Jan. 5, 1946 A. J. DOWLING ET AL FILLINGAPPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 13, 1952 FILLING APPARATUSAndrew 3. Dowling and Edward Urbanski, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application January 5, 1946, Serial No. 639,392

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for filling containersin general and life preservers, life-saving equipment and otherflotation gear with kapok in particular.

In the past, life preservers and other lifesaving equipment was filledcustomarily with kapok by hand methods. This procedure caused a gooddeal of kapok and dust to be present in the room, creating a fire andexplosion hazard. Hand methods also failed to fill the life-saving gearuniformly and compactly besides being slow, taking up a large amount offloor space and in general creating undesirable working conditions. Thedevice herein disclosed is a me chanical apparatus for fillinglife-saving equipment that not only eliminates the disadvantagesmentioned above but also eliminates the use of respirators for employeesand reduces sewing costs becauseof the small insert openings required.

An object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for fillingreceptacles such as lifesaving equipment with kapok or other material,which apparatus is simple to operate, involves an enclosed system forthe material and is efficient in general.

Another object is to provide an apparatus for filling life-savingequipment that is pedal operated and eliminates the disadvantage ofkapok being dispersed throughout the atmosphere of the room.

Further objects and advantages of this invention, as well as itsconstruction, arrangement and operation, will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which Fig. l is a top plan view of the filling apparatus,portions being shown in section for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a front view in elevation of the filling apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a side view in elevation of the filling apparatus, portionsbeing shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a partial view in section showing the intake funnel;

Fig. 5 is a partial view showing a portion of the fiap valve operatingmechanism; and

Fig. 6 is a partial view showing the assembly of chain, rod, and sleeve.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts through the several views. Aplatform I0 is raised above the fioor ll of the room in which theapparatus is installed. Steps |2 provide easy access for the operator tomount the platform l0. Above the platform I0 is a table top or workamended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) 2 support l3 supported suitablyfrom the platform ID as by supports l4. Adjacent to the platform l0 andwork support I3 is an entirely enclosed tank l5 for containing thefiuffed kapok to be dispensed. A transparent plate l6 held by a frame llis provided to enable the operator to note the condition of the contentsof the tank I5.

Mounted upon the work support I3 is a blower 20 having an intake pipe 2|leading into the tank l5. A funnel 22 is located within the tank I5 andis received slidably by the intake tube 2 i. Beneath the funnel 22 on asuitably mounted bracket 23 is a shelf 24 upon the inner end of which islocated an upstanding bracket 25 for a purpose hereinafter disclosed.

Located at the mid horizontal plane of the funnel 22 is a hinge 30 (seeFigs. 1 and 4') attached to the funnel 22, as by Welding, the hinge 34]carrying rotatably an irregularly-shaped lever 3| between its ends. Oneend bf the lever 3| has a disc 32, which in turn mounts a wooden disc33, the wooden disc 33 acting as a valve or stopper for the funnel 22and intake tube 2|. The stopper 33 is held normally in closed positionby means of a coil spring 34, whichis fixed to the upper end of bracket25 and the outer end of the lever 3|.

The exhaust port of the blower 20 has a square exhaust tube 4| attachedthereto by means of the flanges 42. Fitted slidably into the exhausttube 4| is a round filling tube 43. Integral with the exhaust tube 4| isa short projecting tube 44, also of square cross section. Attached tothe projecting tube 44, as by the flanges 45, is a square return tube 46which leads back into the tank l5. At the outer intersection of thesquare tube 4| and the square extending tube 44 is a spindle 41, whichis held in place by means of a cotter pin 48. Integral with the spindle41 and located outside the exhaust tube 4| is a crank or arm 49 havingan eye 50 for a purpose hereinafter disclosed. Rolled around the spindle41 and located within the exhaust tube 4| is a rectangular flap valve 5|adapted to close and open either the exhaust tube 4| or the tubes 44 and46.

Actuation of the flap valve 5| is effected by means of a vertical rodattached to the eye 5|] of crank 49 by means of a bolt 6|. The rod 60 atits lower end passes through an inverted U-shaped bracket 63 fixed inany suitable manner to the platform l0. Mounted slidably on the lowerend of the rod 60 is a pedal 64, which is held on the rod 60 by means ofa nut and a Washer 66, the outer end of the pedal 64 being securedrotatably to the platform I 0 by means of a hinge 61 fixed to theplatform H) by screws 68. The lower end of rod 60 is threaded from itslower end to an intermediate point as at 69. Mounted slidably on saidthreaded portion 69 is a sleeve (see Fig. 6) having an arm II, which 'inturn has an upturned end 12, the sleeve 10 I3 and also on the outer sideof tank are pulleys 80, which guide a chain 8|.

Said chain BI is attached at its ends to the upturned end I2 of the armH and the outer end of the lever 3|.

'I'heblower is driven by means of a motor 90. mounted on an adjustablesupport 9| on one of thevertical supports [4, the driving connectionbetween the motor 90 and the blower 20 being a belt 92.

In theoperation of the apparatus, the operator,

by stepping on the pedal 64, opens the stopper 33 of the funnel 22 andalso moves the flap valve 5| to a position opening the exhaust tube 41and closing tubes 44 and 46. Kapok is then delivered through the fillingtube 43 into the life jacket or other equipment to be filled. Byremoving his foot from the pedal 64, the operator causes the stopper 33to be moved into closed position and also causes the flap valve 5| toclose the exhaust tube M and open the passage through the extending tube44 and return tube 46, thereby enabling the excess kapok that remains inthe blower 28 to be returned to the tank I5. e

Various modifications and changes can be made in the subject devicewithout departing from the scope of the invention.

The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or forthe Government of the Unitedstates of America for governmental purposeswithout the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

We claim:

1. A filling apparatus comprising a work support, an enclosed tankadjacent said work support, a blower on said work support, an intakeport extending from said blower into said tank, a valve in said intakeport, an exhaust port on said blower, a tube connecting said exhaustport with said tank, a valve in said exhaust port arranged to open orclose said exhaust port or said tube, and means to operate said valvessimultaneously.

2. A filling apparatus comprising a work support, an enclosed tankadjacent said work support, a blower onsaid work support, an intake tubeon said blower extending into said tank, a funnel in said tank on saidintake tube, a lever pivoted to said funnel, one end of said leverhaving a stopper for said funnel, the other end of said lever extendingbeyond said funnel, an exhaust tubeon said blower, said blower beingrectangular in cross sectionQa tube connecting said exhaust tube to saidtank, said tube being of rectangular cross section, a ilap valve pivotedat the outer meeting point of said connecting tube and exhaust tubewhereby said flap valve may'close said exhaust tube or said connectingtube, said flap valve being pivoted on a spindle,

and means to rotate said spindle and said lever on said funnelsimultaneously.

3. A filling apparatus comprising a work support, a tank adjacent saidwork support, a blower on said work support, an intake tube leading fromsaid blower into said tank, a funnel on the end of said intake tube, alever pivoted between its ends on said funnel, a stopper for said funnelone one end of said lever, a shelf in said tank below said funnel, abracket on said shelf, a spring fixed to said bracket and to the otherend of said lever, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tubebetween said tank and an intermediate point of said exhaust tube, a flapvalve within said exhaust tube so constructed and arranged as to closeeither said exhaust tube or said connecting tube, said flap valve beingmounted on a spindle, a crank on said spindle outside said exhaust tube,a rod pivoted to said crank, pulleys on said work support, a chainattached to said rod and said other end of said lever and passingoversaid pulleys, and pedal. means to move said rod linearly.

4. A filling apparatus comprising a platform, a work support above saidplatform, a vertically extending tank adjacent said work support andplatform, a blower onsaid work support, an intake tubeon said blowerextending into said tank, a funnel on the end of said intake tube, ashelf adjacent and below said funnel, a Vertically extending bracket onsaid shelf, a hinge on said funnel, a lever pivoted between its ends onsaid hinge, a stopper for, said funnel on one end of said lever, aspring fixed to the other end of said lever and to said bracket andurging said stopper into closed position, an exhaust tube on said.

blower, said exhaust tube being square in cross section, a connectingtube extending between said tank and an intermediate point in saidexhaust tube, said connecting tube being of square cross section, a flapvalve of rectangular configuration at the intersection of said exhausttube and connecting tube, said flap valve being mounted on a spindleextending through said exhaust tube, a crank on said spindle outsidesaid exhaust tube, a vertical rod pivoted to said crank, a bracket ofinverted U-shape on said platform, a bore in the top of said bracket,said rod passing through said bore, a nut on the lower end of said rodlarger in size than said bore, an arm on said rod at-an intermediatepoint thereof, a coil spring on said rod between said arm and saidinverted U- shaped bracket, pulleys on the lower side of said work,support and on said tank, a chain fixed to said arm and the said otherend of said lever and in running engagement with said pulleys,

' and a foot pedal resting on said platform and atopen said intake andexhaust ports and closesaid;

passage when said means is in one position, and

to close said, intake and. exhaust ports andopen.

said passage when said means is in another position.

6. A filling apparatus comprising a work' support, a tank adjacent saidwork .support, a blower on said work support, an intake tube on said,

blower extending into said tank, a funnel in said tank on'saidintaketube, a lever pivoted to said funnel, one end of said lever having astopper forsaid funnel, the other end of said lever extending beyondsaid funnel, an exhaust tube on said blower, a tube connecting saidexhaust tube to said tank, a flap valve pivoted at the outer meetingpoint of said connecting tube and exhaust tube whereby said flap valvecloses said exhaust tube or said connecting tube, said flap valve beingpivoted on a spindle, and means to rotate said spindle and said lever onsaid funnel simultaneously.

7. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intaketube communicating between said tank and said blower, valve means toclose said intake tube when in one position and to open said intake tubewhen in another position, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connectingtube communicating between said tank and said exhaust tube, valve meansto close said exhaust tube when in one position and to close saidconnecting tube when in another position, and means to operate saidvalve means simultaneously.

8. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intaketube communicating between said tank and said blower, valve means toclose said intake tube when in one position and to open said intake tubewhen in another posi tion, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connectingtube communicating between said tank and said exhaust tube, valve meansto close said exhaust tube when in one position and to close saidconnecting tube when in another position, and means to close and to opensaid intake and exhaust tube valve means simultaneously.

9. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intaketube communicating between said tank and said blower, valve means toclose said intake tube when in one position and to open said intake tubewhen in another position, means to retain said valve means in normallyclosed position, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tubecommunicating between said tank and said exhaust tube, valve means toclose said exhaust tube when in one position and to close saidconnecting tube when in another position, means to retain said valvemeans in normally closed position, and means to operate said valve meanssimultaneously.

10. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intaketube on said blower extending into said tank, a valve means to open andclose said intake tube, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connectingtube extending between said tank and said exhaust tube, a flap valve atthe intersection of said exhaust tube and. said connecting tube adaptedto close said exhaust tube or said connecting tube selectively, andmeans to operate said flap valve and said intake tube valve meanssimultaneously.

11. A filling apparatus comprising an enclosed tank, a blower, an intaketube on said blower extending into said tank, valve means to open andclose said intake tube, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connectingtube extending between said tank and said exhaust tube, a flap valve atthe intersection of said exhaust tube and said connecting tube adaptedto close said exhaust tube or said connecting tube selectively, means toretain said valve means in closed position, means to retain said flapvalve in position closing said exhaust tube, and means to operate saidflap valve and said intake tube valve means simultaneously.

12. A filling apparatus comprising a tank, a blower, an intake tube onsaid blower extending into said tank, valve means to open and. closesaid intake tube, an exhaust tube on said blower, a connecting tubeextending between said tank and said exhaust tube, a flap valve at theintersection of said exhaust tube and said connecting tube adapted toclose said exhaust tube or said connecting tube selectively, springmeans to retain said valve means in closed position, spring means toretain said flap valve in position closing said exhaust tube, and meansto operate said valve means simultaneously.

ANDREW J. BOWLING. EDWARD URBANSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 224,847 Ruble Feb. 24, 18801,027,570 Sheldon May 28, 1912 2,359,029 Goldberg Sept. 26, 1944 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 4,746 Australia Nov. 17, 1926 329,380 GreatBritain May 19, 1930

